Indiana : in relation to its geography, statistics, institutions, county topography, etc. : with a "reference index" to Colton's maps of Indiana, Part 6

Author: Fisher, Richard Swainson
Publication date: 1854
Publisher: New York: J.H. Colton
Number of Pages: 152


USA > Indiana > Indiana : in relation to its geography, statistics, institutions, county topography, etc. : with a "reference index" to Colton's maps of Indiana > Part 6
USA > Indiana > Indiana: in relation to its geography, statistics, institutions, county topography, etc., with a "reference index" to Colton's maps of Indiana > Part 6


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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JENNINGS county, organized 1816, contains 380 square miles, and is bounded north by Bartholomew and Decatur, east by Ripley, south by Jefferson and Scott, and west by Jackson and Bartholomew. Near the streams, the most important of which are Graham's fork, and north fork of Muscackituck river, and Sand creek, the surface is hilly and broken, and the soil moderately fertile, except in the beech flats, at the heads of the streams, where it is fit only for grass. Excellent timber, and fine and convenient lime- stone quarries, are the staples of the county. Agriculture furnishes little for export. The Madison and Indianap- olis railroad passes northwest and southeast through the county. In 1850 the county contained 2,064 dwellings and families, 12,096 inhabitants, 1,208 farms, and 78 pro- ductive establishments. VERNON, opposite the junction of the north and south forks of the Vernon branch of Muscackituck river, is the county seat.


JOHNSON county, organized 1822, contains 320 square miles, and is bounded north by Marion, east by Shelby, south by Bartholomew and Brown, and west by Morgan. The east fork of White river, with Sugar creek, Young's


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creek, Indian creek, Stott's creek, etc., drain the country, and afford it mill-power. The surface is very various ; in the southwest it is hilly, south and southeast plea- santly undulating, and in other parts principally level. Every acre is susceptible of cultivation. The soil is gene- rally a rich black loam, mixed with sand; and a great portion has excellent timber. Wheat and corn are largely exported, also, some hogs and cattle. The Madison and Indianapolis railroad passes through the county, and, also, the railroad to Martinsville. In 1850 Jennings contained 2,067 dwellings and families, 12,101 inhabitants, 1,153 farms, and 25 productive establishments. FRANKLIN, on the north side of Young's creek, just about its junction with Hurricane creek, and on the line of the railroad, is the county seat. Edinburg is also an important place.


Knox county, organized 1802, contains 540 square miles, and is bounded north by Sullivan and Greene, east by Daviess, south by Pike and Gibson, and west by the state of Illinois. It is inclosed on three sides by rivers; on the east by the west fork of the White river, on the south by White river, and on the west by the Wabash river, and there are numerous fine streams penetrating its interior, as Deshee river, Marie creek, etc. Much of the surface is either level or undulating, though there are some river hills. The prairies, near the Wabash, are rich and exten- sive ; and the timbered lands, which occupy the largest part of the county, are generally productive; intermixed with them, however, are sandy barrens and swamps. The bottoms are subject to inundations, but are the most fer- tile lands. The county sends off a large amount of surplus products. In 1850 it contained 1,969 dwellings and fami- lies, 11,084 inhabitants, 961 farms, and 37 productive establishments. VINCENNES, the oldest settlement in the state, is the county seat. It is well located on the Wa-


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bash, and has prospects of becoming an important railroad center.


KosCIUSKo county, organized 1836, contains 567 square miles, and is bounded north by Elkhart, east by Noble and Whitley, south by Wabash and Miami, and west by Fulton and Marshall. It is watered by the rivers Tippecanoe and Eel, which have numerous tributary streams. The surface, for the most part, is undulating, with a generally rich soil, and more than one half is heavily timbered. Barrens, or oak openings, occupy a considerable portion of the residue, but there are dry prairies in the center of the state, and also in the northern part, diversified with wet prairies, and several beautiful lakelets abounding in fish. The products of the county are chiefly consumed within itself, but when the tide of immigration shall have fully settled the country, few districts will be able to export a greater surplus. In 1850 it contained 1,783 dwellings, 1,795 families, 10,243 inhabitants, 1,127 farms, and 21 pro- ductive establishments. WARSAW, on the Tippecanoe, is the county seat.


LA GRANGE county, organized 1832, contains 396 square miles, and is bounded north by the Michigan state line, east by Steuben, south by Noble, and west by Elkhart. Fawn river, Pigeon river, and Little Elkhart river are the principal water-courses, but there are, besides these, nu- merous creeks and lakes, which afford adequate mill- power. The surface is mostly level, but there are some broken or undulating districts. Two thirds of the county are barrens or oak openings, one tenth prairie, and the resi- due heavily timbered land. Sandy loam is the prevailing soil, but in those on which timber is thickest clay preponde- rates ; both are fertile, but the former is most productive of wheat. The surplus products seek a market in Michi- gan, and are carried off by the southern railroad of that


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state. In 1850 the county contained 1,479 dwellings, 1,486 families, 8,387 inhabitants, 1,062 farms, and 64 pro- ductive establishments. LA GRANGE, in Bloomfield town- ship, is the county seat. Lima, on Pigeon river, was such before 1842.


LAKE county, organized 1837, contains 468 square miles, and is bounded north by Lake Michigan, east by Porter, south by Jasper, and west by the Illinois state line. The Kankakee river forms its southern border, and receives from the interior West, Cedar, and Eagle creeks. In the north are the two branches of Calumic river and Deep river. The surface and soil are various; near the lakes sand-hills are thrown up, and are covered with dwarf pine and cedar growths ; south of Turkey creek the soil is rich and alluvial, but the central part is better adapted to grazing than crops, the soil being a mixture of clay, marl, and black "muck." Farther south there is more sand, with a mixture of black loam, and very productive; and still farther south, adjoining the Kankakee, are exten- sive marshes. About one half the surface is prairie, with groves of various kinds of timber. The Northern Indian railroad passes through the county in a direction east and west. In 1850 Lake contained 715 dwellings and families, 3,991 inhabitants, 423 farms, and 5 productive establish- ments. CROWN POINT is the county seat.


LA PORTE county, organized 1832, contains 562 square; miles, and is bounded north by the Michigan state line, east by St. Joseph and Marshall, south by Starke, and west by Porter. The principal streams are the Kankakee river, the Little Kankakee river, Gallien river, and Trail creek. The surface is undulating, and abounds with rich prairie,. interspersed with groves of timber and lakes of pure water. The timber is oak and hickory, and near the lake, on the sand-hills, dwarf pine and cedar. In the more.


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level regions beech, poplar, sugar, etc., predominate. The soil is very rich, but in the south are burr oak barrens and the marshes of the Kankakee. The products of the county are largely exported, and the cattle, hogs, etc., are sent to Chicago and Detroit. The Northern railroad passes through the county. In 1850 La Porte contained 2,124 dwellings, 2,150 families, 12,145 inhabitants, 1,116 farms, and 122 productive establishments. LA PORTE, situated in a beautiful lake and prairie country, is the county seat. Michigan city, on Trail creek and Lake Michigan, is also an important town, and is contemplated as the future emporium of the northwestern trade of Indiana.


LAWRENCE county, organized 1818, contains 438 square miles, and is bounded north by Monroe, east by Jackson and Washington, south by Orange, and west by Martin and Greene. The principal stream is the east fork of White river; and there is also a number of fine streams, as Salt creek, Guthrie's creek, Beaver creek, and Leather- wood creek, all eligible for mill-power. The chief part of the surface is either rolling, hilly, or much broken-the level bottoms comprise only about a tenth part of the whole. The soil is excellent and timber abundant. Lime- stone and fine springs of water are found everywhere. The county exports largely. In 1850 the number of dwellings and families was 2,012, of inhabitants 12,097, of farms 1,031, and of productive establishments 19. The extension of the New Albany and Salem railroad traverses the county in a direction north and south, and it is prob- able that the Cincinnati and St. Louis railroad will cross it from east to west. BEDFORD, beautifully situate on the high ground between the east fork of White river and Salt creek, three miles from the former and two from the lat- ter, is the county seat.


COUNTY TOPOGRAPHY.


MADISON county, organized 1823, contains 390 square miles, and is bounded north by Grant, east by Delaware and Henry, south by Hancock, and west by Hamilton and Tipton. The principal stream is the west fork of White river (navigable) and its tributaries; and there are nu- merous fine mill streams, as Pipe creek, Killbuck creek, Fall creek, and Lick creek, which drain a large area. With the exception of a few wet prairies and the river- hills, the country is either gently undulating or level, and was originally heavily timbered. About one fourth is bottom-land, the residue upland, with soils varying, though mostly mixed with clayey loam, and sometimes with sand. The county produces largely of wheat and corn, and feeds immense quantities of stock for market. Limestone and marble are abundant. The Indianapolis and Bellefontaine railroad traverses the county. In 1850 the county contained 2,159 dwellings, 2,160 families, 12,375 inhabitants, 1,494 farms, and 67 productive estab- lishments. ANDERSON, situated on a high bluff on the south side of White river, is the county seat.


MARION county, organized 1821, contains 400 square miles, and is bounded north by Boone and Hamilton, east by Hancock and Shelby, south by Johnson and Morgan, and west by Hendricks. The west fork of White river inter- sects this county, and it is otherwise drained by Fall or Eagle creek, and several others. The north and southwest is a beautiful rolling country, diversified with hills, but the residue, with little exception, is almost level, with slight ascents from the streams. The elevation of the county above the water of the Ohio river is upward of 250 feet, or about 680 above the sea level. One third of the surface is bottoms, and was originally heavily tim- bered with sugar-tree, walnut, ash, and oak, without un- derbrush. The soil is generally black loam, mixed with


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sand and clay, on a limestone-gravel substratum. Away from the streams the soils become poorer, and require fre- quent manuring. The products, however, are abundant, and a large surplus is exported. Manufactures are rap- idly on the increase, and the demands of an increasing intercourse are ever calling for new establishments. In 1850 the county contained 3,984 dwellings, 4,003 families, 24,013 inhabitants, 1,581 farms, and 179 productive es- tablishments. INDIANAPOLIS is the county seat and also CAPITAL OF THE STATE. It is situated on the east bank of the west fork of White river, in latitude 39º 46 north and longitude 86° 4' west, and is as nearly as possible in the center of the state. It stands on a beautiful, very fer- tile, and extensive plain, just below the mouth of Fall creek. It is built on lands (four sections) donated by the General Government, and dates from 1821, at which pe- riod the whole country, for forty miles around, was a dense forest. Since then its growth has been rapid. In 1830 it contained 1,085 inhabitants; in 1834, about 1,600 ; in 1840, 2,692; and in 1850, 8,034. The seat of govern- ment was established here 1st January, 1825. The State House is a fine building, 180 feet long and 80 feet wide, and was completed in 1834, at a cost of $60,000, all of which, together with the cost of the governor's house and of the treasurer's house and offices, was realized from the sale of lots on the donation. Churches, schools, hotels, and every description of stores, now grace its streets; and it boasts of numerous institutions which would do honor to cities of more pretensions. Of late years it has become a chief center of railroad traffic, and, from its position, is likely to maintain its ascendancy in this respect. No less than seven railroads meet here, coming from all directions, and conveying to and from it the wealth of an empire. It is also on the line of the Great National road, and from


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it diverge several fine macadamized and plank roads, pointing to all the important places within and beyond the limits of the state. In manufactures, also, it has made rapid progress, and, at the present time, has me- chanics employed in every handicraft. Few cities in the states north of the Ohio, indeed, have so excellent a pros- pect of future greatness, and there are those who antici- pate its becoming a rival to Cincinnati and St. Louis in the number of its people, the amount of its trade, and in that enterprise which is so necessary to the fulfillment of all high expectations.


MARSHAL county, organized 1836, contains 441 square miles, and is bounded north by St. Joseph, east by Elk- hart and Kosciusko, south by Fulton, and west by Stark and La Porte. The country is watered by Yellow river, which runs nearly through the center, and Tippecanoe river, in the south section ; besides which there are nu- merous smaller streams, as Pine creek, Eagle creek, Wolf creek, etc., and several beautiful lakes, of which Lake Maxineukkee, near the southwest corner, is the largest. The surface is generally level, but sometimes rolling ; and about one half is timbered lands, and the residue barrens interspersed with rich and dry prairie. The soil is excel- lent, and except in the barrens, where it is thin, well adapted for either farming or grazing. Iron ore of good quality is very abundant, and a considerable quantity has been reduced. In 1850 the county contained 928 dwell- ings and families, 5,348 inhabitants, 570 farms, and 10 productive establishments. PLYMOUTH, on the north bank of Yellow river, twenty-five miles from its junction with the Kankakee, is the county seat.


MARTIN county, organized 1818, contains 340 square miles, and is bounded north by Greene, east by Lawrence and Orange, south by Dubois, and west by Daviess. The


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east fork of White river, in its windings through the county, drains a large portion of it, and abundant water- power is also afforded by Lick, Beaver, Indian, and Bogues creeks. The surface is generally hilly, and the soils various in quality, but mostly clay. Nine tenths of the county was originally heavily timbered, the residue river-bottoms and barrens. A considerable amount of produce is exported. Martin will probably be intersected by the line of the Cincinnati and St. Louis railroad. In 1850 the county contained 1,025 dwellings, 1,027 families, 5,941 inhabitants, 633 farms, and 18 productive establish- ments. DOVER HILL, in Perry township, is the county seat


MIAMI county, organized 1832, contains 384 square miles, and is bounded north by Fulton and Kosciusko, east by Wabash and Grant, south by Howard, and west by Cass and Fulton. The principal water-courses are the Wabash river and Eel river, which flow through the county from east to west; and the Mississinewa empties into the Wabash from the south. All these are navigable for light boats, and there are numerous creeks spreading in all directions. The surface, except on the Wabash, etc., rivers, is generally level; on those streams there is a good amount of hilly land, but not so broken as to pre- vent cultivation. One half the county is timbered heavy, and the residue is either bottoms, barrens, or prairies. The soil is universally good and some exceedingly fertile. The surplus products are large in amount, and since the purchase of the Reserve, agriculture has made great pro- gress. Mills of every description line the streams, and are in active employment. In 1850 the county contained 1,944 dwellings, 1,975 families, 11,304 inhabitants, 1,184 farms, and 48 productive establishments. The Wabash and Erie canal crosses in a direction east and west, and


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the Indianapolis and Peru railroad taps it from the south. PERU, on the north bank of the Wabash river, and on the Wabash and Erie canal, is the county seat.


MONROE county, organized 1818, contains 420 square miles, and is bounded north by Owen and Morgan, east by Brown and Jackson, south by Lawrence, and west by Greene and Owen. It is watered by Salt, Clear, and Bean Blossom creeks. On Salt creek, a superior quality of table salt is manufactured. The face of the country is mostly hilly, though near the center there is much that is rolling. It was originally heavily timbered, without prairie, and with but a small portion of bottoms. Walnut, ash, oak, poplar, cherry, hickory, beech, etc., are the prin- cipal growths. Iron ore is plentiful in the northwest. The agricultural products are ample, and the county is well supplied with mills. Some progress has also been made in manufactures. The New Albany and Salem railroad is extended through the county in a direction north and south. In 1850 Monroe contained 1,892 dwellings and families, 11,286 inhabitants, 1,230 farms, and 46 produc- tive establishments, BLOOMINGTON is the county seat. The State University, a very flourishing literary institu- tion, is located here.


MONTGOMERY county, organized 1822, contains 504 square miles, and is bounded north by Tippecanoe, east by Clinton, Boone, and Hendricks, south by Putnam and Parke, and west by Fountain. The west part and near the principal streams the surface is somewhat hilly and broken, in the north and center it is undulating, and in the south and east level. The soil is everywhere rich, and well adapted to corn, wheat, grass, fruit, etc. There are several fine prairies in the north, and occasionally barrens or oak openings, but two thirds of the county was originally covered with heavy forests. The county


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exports amply of wheat and corn, and hogs, cattle, and horses are annually driven to market in great numbers. The principal streams are Sugar creek, Big and Little Raccoon creeks, and there are numerous others of smaller dimensions ; these all form excellent mill sites. In 1850 Montgomery contained 2,971 dwellings, 3,009 families, 18,084 inhabitants, 1,880 farms, and 87 productive estab- lishments. It is connected with La Fayette by railroad, which will probably be continued southward, intersecting several other lines, on its way to New Albany. . CRAW- FORDSVILLE, at which is located Wabash College and a female institute of a high order, is the county seat.


MORGAN county, organized 1818, contains 453 square miles, and is bounded north by Hendricks and Marion, east by Johnson, south by Brown and Monroe, and west by Owen and Putnam. The west fork of White river in- tersects this county in a direction northeast and southwest, and is navigable throughout, and the country is drained by White Lick, Mill, Big Indian, Stott's, and other creeks. About one half the surface is river and creek bottoms, and where these terminate there is generally a line of hills. Back from these the land becomes undulating or level. In the south, adjoining Monroe, is a very hilly and broken region, yet the soil is here excellent, and, when divested of its covering of timber, produces the best crops. No part of the state, indeed, is more generally favorable for agricul- ture than Monroe. The principal crop is corn, but all other grains thrive well. The exports, via the White river and the Martinsville railroad, are considerable, and will rapidly be increased from the facilities now offered to transportation. In 1850 the county contained 2,401 dwellings and families, 14,596 inhabitants, 1,392 farms, and 14 productive establishments. MARTINSVILLE, about one mile east of White river, is the county seat.


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NOBLE county, organized 1836, contains 432 square miles, and is bounded north by La Grange, east by De Kalb, south by Allen and Whitley, and west by Kosciusko and Elkhart. The principal water-courses are Elkhart river and Tippecanoe river. The surface is much diversi- fied, some portions being nearly level, and others rolling or hilly, and about one half is timber covered, the residue being barrens intermixed with prairies. The soil is gene- rally a dark loam, with clay or sand, or both, in various proportions. Lakes are numerous, but small. Iron ore is abundant. In 1850 the county contained 1,395 dwell- ings, 1,402 families, 7,946 inhabitants, 772 farms, and 18 productive establishments. ALBION is the county seat.


OHIO county, organized 1844, contains 92 square miles, and is the smallest in the state. It is bounded north by Dearborn, east by the Ohio river, south by Switzerland, and west by Ripley. The face of the country, except some large and fine bottoms on the Ohio and Laughery, is very hilly, but the soil is uniformly good. Beech, ash, walnut, and sugar predominate near the streams ; oak and hickory in other places. The farms are generally well cultivated, and considerable quantities both of produce and stock are annually exported. Manufactures have also made great progress. In 1850 the county contained, 946 dwellings, 962 families, 5,308 inhabitants, 386 farms, and 34 produc- tive establishments. RISING SUN is the county seat.


ORANGE county, organized 1816, contains 400 square miles, and is bounded north by Lawrence, east by Wash- ington, south by Crawford, and west by Dubois and Mar- tin. The county is drained by Lost creek, Lick creek, and Patoka creek, all which afford excellent mill power. In the south the surface is hilly and broken, abounding in fine springs; in the north it is undulating. Three fifths of the county is upland, well timbered with oak, hickory, 8


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poplar, ash, walnut, cherry, sugar, and beech; the resi- due is about equally rich bottoms or barrens. Grazing is here a principal occupation. The staples are corn, wheat, and rye. There are several sinks and caverns in this county, which has limestone mostly for its basis. In 1850 Orange contained 1,841 dwellings, 1,846 families, 10,809 inhabitants, 1,118 farms, and 8 productive establishments. PAQLI is the county seat.


OWEN county, organized 1818, contains 396 square miles, and is bounded north by Putnam, east by Morgan and Monroe, south by Greene, and west by Clay. The west fork of White river and its tributaries drain the prin- cipal portion of the county, and afford fine mill sites. Eel river, also, has immense water-power. The surface is generally undulating or rolling, and the soil is excellent, with a thick growth of timber. Iron ore and coal are found in great abundance. In 1850 the county contained 2,000 dwellings, 2,002 families, 12,106 inhabitants, 1,142 farms, and 26 productive establishments. SPENCER, on the west bank of White river, is the county seat.


PARKE county, organized 1821, contains 440 square miles, and is bounded north by Fountain and Montgomery, east by Putnam, south by Clay and Vigo, and west by Vermilion. The Wabash river forms its western boun- dary, and a number of fine streams falling into it, drain the whole county ; these are Big Raccoon, Little Raccoon, Leatherwood, and Sugar creeks. Two thirds of the sur- face is either level or slightly undulating, and occasionally hills appear, but of no great elevation. The greater por- tion was originally covered with forests. The soil is a black loam, with sand intermixed, and remarkably fertile. Beds of coal and iron ore of great extent exist throughout the county. The products are immense, and the exports of both grain and live stock commensurate. The Wabash


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and Erie canal traverses this county. In 1850 Parke con- tained 2,468 dwellings, 2,472 families, 14,968 inhabitants, 1,390 farms, and 63 productive establishments. Rock- VILLE is the county seat.


PERRY county, organized 1814, contains 400 square miles, and is bounded north by Dubois and Crawford, east by Crawford and the Ohio river, south by the Ohio river, and west by Spencer and Dubois. This county is drained by An- derson's, Deer, Bear, Oil, and Poison creeks, which empty into the Ohio river. With the exception of the Ohio bottoms, and some few other strips, the surface is very hilly ; and with these exceptions the soil is of an indifferent fertility, yet no part of the county is absolutely worthless. The finest of oak and poplar is found on the hills, and in the bottoms sugar, beech, ash, and walnut preponderate. Large quantities of wood and coal are furnished to steamboats on the Ohio river, and a considerable quantity of garden produce, grown chiefly in the bottoms, is sent to the neighboring markets. The interior furnishes little or no surplus. Cannelton, an important manufacturing town, is located in this county, on the Ohio river, and is famous for its coal (from which it takes its name), and it has several large cotton mills, employing many hands; and in this connection it is probable that the place will ultimately become the seat of operations more extensive than in any other portion of the state. It is also engaged in manu- facturing pottery, for which it has abundance of material. In 1850 the county contained 1,231 dwellings, 1,250 fami- lies, 7,268 inhabitants, 540 farms, and 14 productive establishments. ROME, on the Ohio, is the county seat.




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